PS4’s big games often focus on story, but the console has loads of the best fighting games available too. Some of the top PS4 fighting games are the biggest games in the entire genre, and they play great on PlayStation.
Best PS4 Fighting Games [2023 List]
With Sony purchasing EVO, a lot of fighting game tournaments are going to be played on their platform. From Street Fighter to more niche indies, fighting games for PS4 are one of the most popular esports formats. If you’re looking at fighting games on the console, there’s something in every genre.
There are 2D, 3D, and even platform fighters available, and here’s some of the best out there.
10. PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale
Our bottom selection is a more of a retro pick, but it needs to be mentioned as Sony’s own attempt at PlayStation fighting games. This is their version of Smash Bros, and brings in characters from PlayStation franchises like Sack Boy and Kratos, then pits them against each other in an all-out Battle Royale.
The series hasn’t been as successful as Smash, and isn’t one of the best fighting games on PS4 in terms of esports potential. Still, a port of the original is available on PS4, and is worth a mention as Sony’s attempt at a fighting franchise.
9. Brawlhalla
Brawlhalla is one of the best PS4 fighting games. This is a fighter with a platformer-style mechanic, and players are trying to get knock outs primarily after dealing damage to opponents. There aren’t health bars, but damage that builds and makes you easier to KO.
It features a cast of fighters pulling from Ubisoft’s other properties along with original characters based on mythology. The game now has over 50 characters, each with an entirely unique loadout, stats, and attacks. It even features characters from Assassin’s Creed, Adventure Time, Shovel Knight, and Street Fighter!
Brawlhalla has a fairly active esports scene. Most notably the Brawhalla World Championship, a huge one-on-one event. It’s one of the best fighting games for PS4 to get into if you’re looking for an esports fighter that’s a bit more accessible.
8. King of Fighters
King of Fighters is one of the oldest 2D arcade-style fighters. The latest edition is King of Fighters XV, the most expansive one yet. The game has a new system of energy bars being filed up for an ultimate attack, a parry system that’s seen some improvements as Shatter Strike, and one of the most varied rosters we’ve seen.
King of Fighters XV has an active esports scene with tournaments at major events like EVO and DreamHack. It’s one of the PS4 fighting games that’s most established at these big events. King of Fighters XV is the first title to make use of rollback netcode, so it’s great for playing on PS4 online too.
7. Melty Blood: Type Lumina
Melty Blood: Type Lumina has become one of the biggest fighting games for PS4 of all time. This is a spin-off of a visual novel franchise, but the fifth game in the series is a bit hit for competitive fighting. The title uses new approaches to combos and fluid controls to make for a technically rewarding game.
You can find Melty Blood: Type Lumina at loads of the top fighting games events like CEOTaku, and East Coast Throwdown. it’s also regularly at EVO where the top players compete on PlayStation. It’s one of the best PS4 fighting games, and ranks high on our overall top 10 fighting games as well.
If you’re looking for an anime-styled game that isn’t from Arc System Works, this one’s for you.
6. Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat is a juggernaut of a fighting game. It’s run for decades, with arcade machines, movies, giant esports events, to even more dubious attempts at making a movie! The franchise is synonymous with fighting games. It’s been available on PlayStation since 1996 when a port of the original three arcade games made the jump over.
In the time since Mortal Kombat on PlayStation has flourished. It’s not a downgraded version of the gory arcade game anymore, the PlayStation version of Mortal Kombat 11 is the definitive version. This game handles just as well as the classic arcade machines, but with impressive visuals, a variety of modes, characters, and content to keep players going for a long time.
Mortal Kombat is a huge esports game but there’s plenty to do on a more casual level too. It’s one of the most played PS4 fighting games.
5. MultiVersus
MultiVersus is a newer entry in the PS4 fighting games, but it’s one of the best in recent years. It’s a Smash Bros-style fighter, it draws characters from across different media franchises.
MultiVersus is in early access, but it already has an exciting range of characters. Things are a bit more limited for solo play, but it’s one of the best fighting games on PS4. As a free-to-play game with MultiVersus crossplay too, it’s one of the easiest PS4 fighting games to jump into.
4. Guilty Gear Strive
Guilty Gear -Strive- is an Arc System Works title that’s been a breakout hit in the esports world. This is the latest in quite a line of Guilty Gear games but it makes some new innovations that have pushed it to the next level. The Wall Break feature is a standout addition. The game also moves on the main story of the Guilty Gear games.
With rollback netcode, tight gameplay, and a lot to offer, this is one of the best fighting games on PS4.
3. FighterZ
FighterZ is a 2D fighting game that uses Marvel V Capcom style of combat in the world of Dragon Ball. You can use the huge Ki attacks from characters as well as up-close melee moves in a game where combos can be game-changing. Balancing all three of your fighters each with these unique special moves and melee combos can make it pretty effective.
FighterZ plays great on the PlayStation 4. The game from Arc System Works has also recently had a next-gen upgrade on the PS5, it’s getting rollback netcode too which should make the title much smoother to play online. This update brings it in line with more recent fighting games for PS4.
2. Tekken 7
Tekken 7 is the latest instalment in the franchise that really cut its teeth on the PlayStation console. The new version of the game is one of the best fighting games PS4 has. It’s gotten real improvements over past instalments for one of the most polished Tekken experiences yet.
Tekken 7 has added a new rage art mode with cinematics, a power crush attack, and screw hits. That’s along with new modes and other features. Tekken 7 is still played at a lot of major events like EVO. If you’re not quite on that level, there’s an in-depth Tekken ranking system to play through too. It’s one of the best PS4 fighting games.
1. Street Fighter
Street Fighter 6’s early beta is available across all platforms; it plays great as a PS4 fighting game though. The combat is just about the peak of the 2D arcade-style fighting. Players can find enough content to stay busy for a long time too, with the full release promising to have a lot more modes and ways to play than V.
Before 6 comes out, Street Fighter V Champion Edition is the current version of the game. This version of the title is a big improvement on its launch, with added characters and content that fleshed it out a lot more. It’s become one of the best fighting games on PS4.
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